BUILDING VOLUME

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DESCRIPTION OF A CUBE
WHAT IS A CUBE?

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DESCRIPTION OF A CUBE
A cube is a three-dimensional geometric
figure with all sides made of squares called faces.

How many faces does a cube have?

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DESCRIPTION OF A CUBE
IT HAS 6 FACES.
5 4 3 6 2 1

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DESCRIPTION OF A CUBE
Two faces intersect in a segment called an
edge.

How many edges does a cube have?

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DESCRIPTION OF A CUBE
IT HAS 12 EDGES.
width

height

length

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DESCRIPTION OF A CUBE
Three faces intersect in a point called a
vertex.

How many vertices does a cube have?

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DESCRIPTION OF A CUBE
IT HAS 8 VERTICES.
7 2 3 8 1 4 5 6

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BUILDING CUBES
Complete the cube table using a single
cube. Surface area is the sum of the areas of all the faces. Volume is the number of cubes needed for the figure or how many cubes will fit inside the shape.

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BUILDING CUBES
Compare your answer.
Size of Cube Edge Length (Distance) Perimeter of Side (Face) Area of Side Surface Area Volume

1x1x1

4 units

1 square units

6 square units

1 cubic units

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BUILDING CUBES
Use the snap cubes to build the next
larger cube.

What is the size of the cube?

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BUILDING CUBES
The size of the cube is 2 x 2 x 2 or 2 units
length x 2 units width x 2 units height.

Complete the cube table for this single

cube.
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BUILDING CUBES
How do your answers compare with these?

Size of Cube

Edge Length (Distance)

Perimeter of Side (Face)

Area of Side

Surface Area

Volume

2x2x2

8 units

4 square 24 units square units

8 cubic units

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BUILDING CUBES
Look at your answers for the 1x1x1 cube
and the 2x2x2 cube. Do you notice any patterns on the table?

Now build the next larger cube.

How large is the cube?
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BUILDING CUBES
Size of the cube is 3x3x3.

Complete the table for this cube

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BUILDING CUBES
How do your answers compare with these? Do your patterns still work?
Size of Cube Edge Length (Distance) Perimeter Area of of Side Side (Face) Surface Area

Volume

3x3x3

12 units 9 square 54 units square units

27 cubic units

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BUILDING CUBES
Use the snap cubes to build the next
larger cube.

How large is the cube?

ANSWER

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BUILDING CUBES
Size of cube is 4x4x4.

Complete the cube table for this cube.

The University of Texas at Dallas

BUILDING CUBES
How do your answers compare with these? Do your patterns still work?
Size of Cube Edge Length (Distance) Perimeter of Side (Face) Area of Side Surface Area Volume

4x4x4

16 units

16 square units

96 square units

64 cubic units

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BUILDING CUBES
Use your pattern to complete the table for
a 5x5x5 cube.

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BUILDING CUBES
Now build the cube to see if your patterns
work.

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BUILDING CUBES
Here is the 5x5x5 cube.

The University of Texas at Dallas

BUILDING CUBES
Compare your answer.
Size of Cube Edge Length (Distance) Perimeter of Side (Face) Area of Side Surface Area Volume

5x5x5

20 units

25 square units

150 square units

125 cubic units

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BUILDING CUBES
Use your patterns to complete the table
for these cubes.
6x6x6 8x8x8 10x10x10 7x7x7 9x9x9
ANSWER

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BUILDING CUBES
Size 6x6x6 7x7x7 8x8x8 9x9x9 10x10x10 Edge Length 6 7 8 9 10 Face 24 units 28 units 32 units 36 units 40 units Area of 1 Face Surface Area Volume 216 cubic units 343 cubic units 512 cubic units 729 cubic units 1000 cubic units 36 square 216 sq units units 49 sq units 64 sq units 81 sq units 100 sq units 294 sq units 384 sq units 484 sq units 600 sq units

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BUILDING CUBES
Use symbols to explain the patterns you
found.

If n is the number of units on the edge of a

cube, what is the edge length?
ANSWER

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BUILDING CUBES
Since n is the measurement of the edge,
edge length is n- units long.

What is the perimeter of each face?

ANSWER

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DISCUSSION
Perimeter = 2 length + 2 width = 2n +2n = 4n

What is the area of each face?

ANSWER

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DISCUSSION
Area = width x length = n x n = n2.

What is the surface area?

ANSWER

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DISCUSSION
A cube has 6 faces. If each face area is n2, then
surface area is 6n2.

What is the volume?

ANSWER

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DISCUSSION
Volume = length x width x height. Volume = n x n x n = n3. Now use your symbolic representations to
complete the table for a 15x15x15 cube.

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BUILDING CUBES
Compare your answer.
Size of Cube Edge Length (Distance) Perimeter Area of of Side Side (Face) Surface Area Volume

15x15x15

15

60 units

225 square units

1350 square units

3375 cubic units

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